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What is the Difference Between a Wart and a Mole?
A wart and a mole can look similar, but these two skin abnormalities are actually very different. They are caused by different things, and when examined closely, they are often different in appearance and texture. Also, though both can be removed, warts can generally be removed at home with simple home remedies, while most moles can be quite difficult to remove without the help of a medical professional.
Probably the biggest difference between a wart and a mole is the causes. A wart is caused by a viral infection of a small clump of skin cells. Although it is rare, warts can be spread from one person to another by direct contact.
Moles are not considered to be contagious; they cannot be spread to another person, either by direct contact or any other method. They are mostly made up of a clump of skin pigment cells, known as melanocytes. Most scientists believe that moles are genetic, and they often appear after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Warts are raised bumps on the skin and can often be found on the feet, hands, and arms of an infected person. They are generally white or very pale in color. The top of the bump can feel smooth, like a blister, but many times it will feel bumpy, like cauliflower. Also, a wart will usually feel harder than the skin around it, and some may even be painful.
A mole hardly ever causes pain. Unlike a wart, a mole will usually feel just like the skin that surrounds it. Most moles will be darker, however, and some will be raised. Hair can also be found growing out of a mole, but it is extremely rare to find hair on a wart.
Another major difference between a wart and a mole is the length of time that it stays on a person's skin. After a wart appears, it will usually be there anywhere from a few weeks to several years. Warts will often disappear on their own without any type of treatment. Moles, on the other hand, are usually permanent and rarely disappear without some type of medical or cosmetic procedure.
Wart removal rarely involves anything more complicated than an at-home remedy. One folk remedy for removing a wart involves covering it with a small piece of duct tape for an extended length of time. Topical, over-the-counter medicines are also sold to get rid of warts, and these are applied directly to the wart and are available in liquid, cream, or bandage forms. Although there are some products that claim to remove moles at home, a surgical procedure is usually necessary.
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![A skin mole.]()
A skin mole. -
![Flat skin mole.]()
Flat skin mole. -
![Warts on a hand.]()
By: Tiler84Warts on a hand. -
![A person applying medicine to a wart.]()
By: leschnyhanA person applying medicine to a wart. -
![A raised mole.]()
By: paulandlaraA raised mole. -
![Woman with a mole above her upper lip.]()
By: donatellinaWoman with a mole above her upper lip. -
![Most moles can be difficult to remove without the help of a medical professional.]()
By: Fly_dragonflyMost moles can be difficult to remove without the help of a medical professional.
Discussion Comments
to anon 991833 I believe you read it wrong. It says warts can most often be removed at home and that moles may require professional help. Just trying to help.
@ bear78 It probably is a mole. I just had one removed on my face just under my eye and it was the same color as my skin. The doctor says it will leave a white mark there, but that is better than big mole.
Seriously? A surgical procedure is usually necessary to remove a wart? What a load of bull. If you get the right stuff it goes away if you're persistent with the medicine. It's bloody moles that you need a doctor's help to get rid of. I had a wart on the bottom of my right foot for about a year. It never bothered me. But then when it started getting bigger and started to hurt, and then a couple more started appearing around the other one, I knew I had to get rid of it. I didn't rush to the bloody doctor, though. I had wart stuff at home already that my father uses when he gets them and they work fine for him. I used it on mine. It said it'd take anywhere between six and 12 weeks to get rid of it if I applied the medicine each day. It only took a little over two weeks and it's gone now.
Seriously, there's no need to rush to the doctor, especially if it's not causing pain anyway. The only reason I decided to do something about mine in the end was because it was starting to hurt and then more started coming on. Duofilm Solution is what I use. Works great.
I have several moles all over my body. Recently three of the moles under my breast started bleeding. I am waiting to see a surgeon in June. So far, they are not cancerous. Can moles be inherited? My father and brothers have had some removed. Thanks you for your help.
I think the easiest ways to tell apart warts and moles are color and location.
Moles usually have some kind of color because moles are made from skin cells that are responsible for the pigment in our skin.
Location of the growth is also a sign of what it is. For example, moles in the genital area are rare or nonexistent, they're almost always warts.
@feruze-- Sometimes moles and warts can look very similar. For example, there is a type of wart called a filiform wart that has an appearance and texture that's very much like a mole. I had a filiform wart on my hand and I seriously thought that it was a mole.
The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor for a diagnosis. Most dermatologists can tell just by looking at it. If the doctor is not sure, they can do a test to check for viruses which will clarify if it's a mole or a wart.
Warts are viral and they're usually caused by different types of HPV viruses. So if you test positive for a strand of HPV, that means that it's a wart.
Are warts always the same color as skin?
I have a small growth on my cheek. It sort of looks like a mole, but it's a light color, almost matching my own skin color. I honestly can't tell if it's a wart or a mole.
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